Dairy Goats: Sustainable Production

ATTRA is the national sustainable agriculture information service operated by the National
Center for Appropriate Technology, through a grant from the Rural Business-Cooperative Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture. These organizations do not recommend or endorse products,
companies, or individuals. NCAT has offices in Fayetteville,Arkansas (P.O. Box 3657, Fayetteville,
AR 72702), Butte, Montana, and Davis, California.
National SustainableAgriculture Information Service
www.attra.ncat.org
Introduction
In 1994, world-wide production of goat milk was approximately 10.5
million tons. In the United States at that time, there were approximately
one million dairy goats producing 600,000 tons of milk, about 300 known
dairy goat businesses, and at least 35 known commercial goat-cheese mak-
ers. These cheese makers produced about 640 tons of U.S. goat cheeses,
while at least another 650 tons of goat cheese were imported that year
from France alone.(Haenlein, 1996)
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION GUIDE
Abstract: Dairy Goats: Sustainable Production is intended for those interested in starting a commercial goat
dairy. It discusses the five major considerations to be addressed in planning for dairy goat production: labor, sales and
marketing, processing, regulations, and budgeting and economics. It includes production information specific to dairy
goats, including choosing breeds and selecting stock. A resource list for further information about dairy goat production
follows the end notes.
DAIRY GOATS:
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
This is a companion piece to ATTRA’s Goats: Sustainable Production Overview. The Overview
should be read first, since it contains production information for goats in general, including graz-
ing management, fencing, reproduction, nutrition, diseases and parasites, and resources.
Contents
Introduction ....................1
Getting Started................2
Labor ............................2
Marketing ....................3
Processing....................3
Farm Profile:
Split Creek Farm,
South Carolina ..............5
Regulations..................5
Budgeting ....................7
Production
Notes..............................10
Selecting stock............10
Farm Profile:
Redwood Hill
Farm, California...........14
Feeding...................... 15
Milking...................... 18
Health........................ 21
Conclusion ................... 24
Farm Profile:
Blufftop Farm,
Arkansas..................... 25
Resources...................... 26
References .................... 30
By Linda Coffey, Margo Hale,
and Paul Williams
NCAT Agriculture Specialists
© 2004 NCAT

//DAIRY GOATS: SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTIONPAGE 2
Dairy goats are enjoyable animals, easy to
handle and haul, and relatively inexpensive to
purchase, feed, and house. Dairy goat produc-
tion, especially pasture-based production, offers
the opportunity for profitable and sustainable di-
versity on a small farm. For example, a vegetable
farm can use goats to clean up residue and fertil-
ize the land, while producing milk for the family
or for raising kids, calves, pigs, or other livestock.
Goats will browse and help keep pastures from
being overrun with woody species.
In some locations, Grade A dairies may have
a market for fluid milk. Goat milk can often be
enjoyed by people who are allergic to cows’ milk,
and infants of all species generally thrive on goat
milk. Value-added products such as cheese and
yogurt made from goat milk are finding a grow-
ing acceptance in the dairy market, with sales of
goat cheese increasing more than 16% in 2000.
(Specialty Cheese Market, 2001)
However, producing dairy animals and
dairy products requires a great commitment of
time and energy and consistent attention to de-
tail. Proper nutrition and milking procedures,
Related ATTRA publications
Goats: Sustainable Production Overview
Sustainable Goat Production: Meat Goats
Small Ruminant Sustainability
Checksheet
Rotational Grazing
Sustainable Pasture Management
Integrated Parasite Management for
Livestock
Predator Control for Sustainable & Organic
Livestock Production
Value-added Dairy Options
Assessing the Pasture Soil Resource
Dung Beetle Benefits in the Pasture
Ecosystem
Grazing Networks for Livestock Producers
Matching Livestock & Forage Resources in
Controlled Grazing
Multispecies Grazing
Nutrient Cycling in Pastures
Introduction to Paddock Design & Fencing–
Water Systems for Controlled Grazing
skillful kid raising, and good general health care
are essential for success. In addition, costs must
be kept under control. Most important of all is
marketing; a viable business requires a healthy
demand for the product or products produced
and a price that allows a profit.
Because commercial production is so much
more challenging than keeping a few dairy goats,
this publication will first address the major issues
of labor, marketing, processing, regulations, and
budgeting. The production notes— including
selecting stock, feeding, breeding, and milk-
ing— compose the second major section. Finally,
budgets and a list of further resources are also
provided.
Getting Started
Things to be considered before entering
a commercial dairy goat business include the
availability of labor, the marketing outlook,
processing options, regulations, budgeting, and
economics.
Labor
Labor is a major concern. Do you enjoy goats
enough to spend mornings and evenings, seven
days a week, week after week, feeding, milking,
and cleaning up? Do you have the support of
your family in this? Many dairy producers have
faced frustration and burnout after trying unsuc-
cessfully to hire competent help. If your family is
not willing to help with the business, you should
probably consider a less demanding enterprise.
Estimates vary regarding the labor de-
mands of a goat dairy. Dr. Robert Appleman
believes that a 100-doe dairy selling fluid milk
to a processor will require about 1.5 full-time
workers.(Appleman, 1989) Appleman’s calcula-
tions:
Milking: 25 does/person/hr (305 days)
Set-up and clean-up: 40 min. daily
Manure handling and bedding: 25 min.
daily
Feeding hay and grain: 30 min. daily
Heat detection: 30 min./day for 6
months
Breeding: 20 min. x 2 breedings
Miscellaneous: .5 min. daily per doe
Some of the above figures are per doe, while
others are per herd. Total labor per doe in
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//DAIRY GOATS: SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION PAGE 3
Appleman’s budget is 34.7 hours per year, 70% of
which is spent milking.(Appleman, 1989)
In contrast, a Pennsylvania State Univer-
sity budget estimated labor as 22 hours per doe
per year to run a 100-doe facility (Penn State,
http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/livestock/
dairygoat/budget1.htm), while another bud-
get considered 13.6 hours per doe per year
to be sufficient for a 100-doe herd.(Rutgers
Cooperative Extension, http://aesop.rutgers.
edu/~farmmgmt/ne-budgets/organic/DAIRY-
GOAT-1500LB-MILK.HTML) With so much
variation in estimates, you may want to visit a
producer who has a dairy the size you intend to
operate, work beside the farmer for a week or
so if possible, and ask what that farmer thinks is
realistic. Facilities and efficiency of milking, feed-
ing, and cleaning can account
for a lot of the difference, and
that should be kept in mind
as you plan your dairy farm.
Also, note that these figures do
NOT include any value-added
processing or marketing time;
if on-farm processing is part of
your business, labor costs will
be significantly higher.
Marketing
If labor is available, the next concern is mar-
keting. What product or products do you hope to
sell? Is there an unmet demand for that product
in your area? If so, what price can you realisti-
cally expect to receive? Can you make a profit if
you sell at that price?
In the case of fluid milk, a prospective pro-
ducer must first locate a reliable buyer. Judy
Kapture, long-time producer and columnist for
the Dairy Goat Journal, issues a strong warning to
the farmer planning to start a goat dairy.
You are certainly wise to be cautious. I can
tell far too many stories about people who
used all their money to set up their farm as a
goat dairy, and then never did sell any milk.
Or their milk market fizzled out within a
year... Get in touch with them (the buyer) to
find out if they actually are planning to buy
more milk. Learn the details—how much
milk do they want from a farm, what do they
pay for milk, is winter production a neces-
sity, what do they charge for hauling, etc.
Then talk with some of the people who are
shipping milk to them now. You want to find
out if they feel the pay for the milk is good
enough to make the goatkeeping effort worth-
while. (Remember that feed and other costs
vary greatly and a “good milk price” in one area
may be too low for another.) You may get some
surprises when you ask this question... Be cau-
tious about new startups. Sometimes they have
a lot of enthusiasm but no idea how difficult it
will be to market their milk or cheese or other
product in the quantities they need… Are there
patrons shipping milk to the buyer now? Talk
to them, all of them. Are they getting paid? Is
the buyer taking all the milk he promised he
would?... How good is the market for what
they are planning to sell? (Kapture, 2001)
In many areas of the United States, there
are no processors. In some areas, a processor is
available but already has enough milk produc-
ers on contract. Therefore, it
is vital to be sure you have a
market for your milk. If you
are unable to sell to a proces-
sor, it may be feasible to sell
to individuals raising baby
animals, or to market the milk
through your own livestock
(raising calves, for example,
and selling them for meat). In
some areas it is possible to sell
milk directly to individuals for
human consumption, but in MANY states that
is ILLEGAL. To find out what is legal in your
state, contact the agency responsible for dairy
regulations. The American Dairy Goat Asso-
ciation (ADGA) lists the contact information for
state agencies on its Web site, www.adga.org.
Go to “Starting a Grade A or Grade B dairy,”
www.adga.org/StartDairy.htm.
Marketing to individuals will require much
more time and effort and will be harder to initiate.
For example, a milk truck going to a commercial
dairy may pick up 200 gallons of milk every other
day. If there is no milk truck, how much milk can
you sell each week? If the answer doesn’t equal
“all of it,” what will you do with the rest? The
available market is a major factor in determining
your scale of operation (herd size).
Processing
Some producers choose not to deal with a
milk buyer and hope to increase their farm profits
by processing the milk themselves. Diversifying
the products you sell may offer more income and
financial stability. Those products might include
It is vital to be sure
you have a market
for your milk.
© Ana Labate • www.sxc.hu

fluid milk, milk-fed pork, goat cheese of one or
more varieties, yogurt, fudge, goatskins, meat, or
goat-milk soap or lotions.
Cheese is a good alternative to selling milk,
particularly if you like direct marketing. It is legal
to use raw milk in making cheese if the cheese is
aged at least 60 days before sale.(Dairy Practices
Council, 1994) Fresh cheese must be made with
pasteurized milk. Cheesemaking classes will
prove helpful, and much practice, experimenta-
tion, and sampling will be necessary before you
are ready to market farmstead cheese. You must
abide by regulations (talk to your inspector about
what is involved). Cheese-making resources are
discussed in The Small Dairy Resource Book (see
Resources: Contacts), and Caprine Supply and
Hoegger Supply Company (see Resources: Sup-
pliers) offer several books about cheesemaking.
Edible products will require
a Grade A dairy, commercial
kitchen, and licenses (contact
your state agency for more
details), while soap making
does not. Soap is non-perish-
able, easy to ship, and does
not require much milk. These
advantages make soap an ap-
pealing option for small farm
enterprises.
Any further processing (be-
yond selling bulk fluid milk)
will create extra demands on the
farmers, since they must some-
how tend not only to the dairy-
ing but also to the processing,
packaging, marketing, delivery,
and paperwork.(Dunaway,
2000) Also, while diversifying products may
add stability (not all the eggs in one basket),
each new product will require more equipment,
labor, storage space, production knowledge and
skill, and outlets and time for marketing. Unless
there is a large labor force available, too much
diversification will be unsustainable. Dr. tatiana
[sic] Stanton points out the following.
If you try to produce a whole line of products,
it can make really big marketing demands on
you if you are not going to sell them to the
same buyer. For example, if you are a small
producer and are going to sell fudge, soap,
and cheese all to the same local food co-op or
over the Web, that is one thing. You are go-
ing to have to do a lot more marketing if your
cheese is going to cheese shops or restaurants,
and your fudge and soap to gift shops. You
may find in such a case that it is a terrible
decision to expand your line.(Stanton, 2002)
Brit and Fleming Pfann, owners of Celebrity
Dairy in North Carolina, have said, “Marketing
takes a huge amount of time, and as we’ve gotten
more involved in cheese-making and in selling
the cheese, we’ve found that we have very little
time to spend with the animals.”(Pfann, 2002)
Other farmers have echoed that observation, and
this is disappointing to those who enjoy the goats
far more than processing or marketing. If you
yourself do not want to be involved in market-
ing, then you will need a partner who is capable,
reliable, and enthusiastic.
Your customers can be local individuals,
restaurants, farmers’ market patrons, grocery
stores, or even mail-order and
Web customers. Harvey Con-
sidine cautions against pricing
products too cheaply.
In a competitive market such as
goat cheese, one must be constant-
ly aware of what the competition
is charging, but even then every-
one must know their own costs of
production. If you do not cover
those costs you will not be long
in business. Keep in mind that
other factors than competition can
justify price... My counsel always
is to produce a high-quality prod-
uct consistently and charge what
you must to make your venture
profitable.(Considine, 1999)
There are successful farm-
stead cheesemakers, and their stories may inspire
you. Their experiences should help prospective
producers think through the demands of the
occupation and decide whether family support
and available labor will be adequate to meet
the challenges. Some thoughts shared by Brit
and Fleming Pfann, of Celebrity Dairy in North
Carolina, www.celebritydairy.com, illustrate the
demands of farmstead cheese making.
Sustained long hours of work (all year)
Great breadth of skills (dairy animals,
cheesemaking, marketing)
Significant capital investment
...and may return a modest annual
income.
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Cheese is a good alterna-
tive to selling milk.

Another North Carolina goat dairy is the
Goat Lady Dairy; like Celebrity Dairy, it pro-
duces delicious farmstead cheese and has other
enterprises to diversify the farm income. Goat
Lady Dairy also offers a class in farmstead cheese-
making. To learn more about the dairy, visit
www.goatladydairy.com/.
For more information about processing your
own dairy products, see the ATTRA publica-
tion Value-added Dairy Options and explore the
Resources section of that publication as well as
this one.
Regulations
Grade A Requirements
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
drafted the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO),
which states that only pasteurized milk can be
sold as Grade A. Enforcement of this ordinance
Split Creek Farm, in Anderson, South Carolina, is a great
example of a farm that started out small and grew to be a large
operation. Evin Evans and Patricia Bell’s goal was to be self-suf-
ficient, and that required gradual growth.
Split Creek Farm started with three goats and a few acres.
Over the years Evans and Bell added to their herd and their pas-
tures, fences, and barns. The herd, mostly Nubians, peaked at 750
goats; the farm’s goat population now averages approximately
275, with about half of those being milked.
Split Creek became a commercial Grade A Dairy in 1985 and
started a small-scale cheese operation three years later. They
increased their production as the demand for goat cheese grew,
and by 1990 Split Creek had progressed from the original 4-gal-
lon vat batches to the current 150-gallon vat batches. Split Creek
currently sells raw milk, award-winning cheeses and fudge, soap,
gift baskets, and folk art at a retail shop on the farm. Split Creek
Farm’s primary concerns are herd health and the ultimate quality
of the dairy products they sell. In keeping with their commitment
to sell natural products, Evans and Bell do not use hormones to
enhance breeding or milk production, and herbicides and pesti-
cides are not used on their pastures.
Evans and Bell, with assistance from two full-time and two
part-time employees, care for the goats and produce and sell
the products. They have worked long and hard for what they
have accomplished, and they are proud of the quality of their
goats and their goat milk products. For more information on
Split Creek Farm, their products, and the crew behind it all, visit
www.splitcreek.com.
is under the jurisdiction of state departments of
health or agriculture (Zeng and Escobar, 1995),
and local requirements may vary. The Ameri-
can Dairy Goat Association Web site, www.
adga.org/, includes contact information for the
authority in each state, and it is important to
contact your state inspector early in the process
of setting up your commercial goat dairy. The
Web address for the contact information is www.
adga.org/StartDairy.htm. State inspectors will be
able to make helpful suggestions and can assist
you in planning and procuring USDA-approved
equipment. Many producers have commented
that their state inspectors helped them avoid
expensive mistakes.
The Langston University publication Grade
A Dairy Goat Farm Requirements— on the Web at
www.luresext.edu/goats/library/fact_sheets/
d04.htm— discusses the requirements for a Grade
A dairy. These include a milking barn or parlor
with a floor made of concrete
or other impervious material
for easy cleaning, and walls
and dust-tight ceilings that are
smooth, painted or finished,
and in good repair. Sufficient
ventilation is needed to elimi-
nate condensation, minimize
odor, and provide comfort for
the milker. Adequate lighting
is required, as well as a stor-
age cabinet for medications.
Wooden milking stands are
not acceptable.(Zeng and Es-
cobar, 1995)
A separate milk room is
required for cooling and stor-
ing goat milk, to minimize
the risk of contamination
from the milking barn. The
structure must be in good
repair and easy to clean. The
floor should slope evenly to
a drain, and wash-sinks, hot
water, and on-site toilets are
required. Milking lines and
other equipment should be of
stainless steel or other smooth,
non-absorbent material. Milk
storage tanks must have an ef-
ficient cooling system. Fresh,
warm milk coming out of
Split Creek Farm, South Carolina
Evin J. Evans and Patricia Bell

pipelines or milking buckets must be cooled to
45 degrees F within two hours. The water supply
must comply with the Clean Water Act require-
ments, as enforced by the EPA, and a dairy waste
management system must be in place. Grade A
dairies are inspected at least twice a year, and
milk samples are collected periodically.
Scrapie Eradication Program
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease af-
fecting the central nervous system of sheep (and
goats, very rarely), one of the class of diseases
known as transmissible spongiform encepha-
lopathies (TSEs). Other examples of TSEs in-
clude BSE in cattle and Chronic Wasting Disease
(CWD) in deer and elk. There is no evidence that
scrapie can spread to humans, but BSE, a TSE
similar to scrapie, has been implicated in vari-
ant Jacob-Cruchfeld disease,
and therefore there is a concern
about its potential to spread to
humans. Negative public per-
ceptions and the loss of export
opportunities have encouraged
the efforts to eradicate scrapie
from the U.S. The incidence
of scrapie in goats is extremely
low, so it is highly unlikely
that your herd will be affected.
Nevertheless, goat produc-
ers (and sheep producers) are
required to participate in the
Scrapie Eradication Program.
Details about this program are
available by contacting your
state veterinarian or by going
to the National Scrapie Educa-
tion Initiative Web site, www.eradicatescrapie.or
g/index.html. You must first contact your state
veterinarian to request a premises identification
number. For additional information or for help
in obtaining a premises ID number, call 866-
USDA-TAG (toll-free). You will then receive free
eartags with your premises ID printed on them,
and you must tag any breeding animals over the
age of 18 months before they leave your farm.
Dairy goat producers may use tattoos instead
of ear tags, and the state veterinarian can assist
by assigning a premises ID that consists of your
state abbreviation and the ADGA tattoo sequence
assigned to the farm. In addition, any breeding
goat (or sheep) that crosses state lines (for shows
or to be sold, for example) must be accompanied
by an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspec-
tion (health certificate) issued by an accredited
veterinarian. (National Institute for Animal Ag-
riculture,www.eradicatescrapie.org/index.html)
Registered goats may be transported across state
lines using registration tattoos as identification,
provided they are accompanied by their negative
certificate registration or a health certificate list-
ing the tattoo number.
Raw Milk Sales
Many natural foods consumers want raw
milk. Many experts do not consider selling raw
goat milk an option at all, due to legal issues
and health concerns. Attorney Neil Hamilton
discusses raw milk sales in his book The Legal
Guide for Direct Farm Marketing (see Resources:
Books). Hamilton recommends contacting your
state department of agriculture for information
on regulations.
The sale of unpasteurized milk is
the subject of regulation because
of concerns over the transmis-
sion of diseases. In some states,
such as Iowa, the sale of raw
milk—even in small quanti-
ties—is strictly prohibited by
state regulation and the state
officials take a rather rigorous
approach on the issue. In other
states, officials have a more per-
missive attitude toward the sale
of raw milk, allowing small-scale
personal sales to occur even if
not specifically allowed by law.
In some states dairy farmers are
allowed to make limited sales
of raw milk directly to consum-
ers as long as the sales meet the
requirements established by law
or regulation. The requirements usually relate
to how the milk is sold, the quantity involved
and compliance with state sanitation require-
ments for the dairy operation.(Hamilton, 1999)
Even if raw milk sales are legal in your state,
you will want to consider carefully the risks of
selling raw milk to customers. Many serious
diseases can be transmitted to humans who
drink raw milk, including brucellosis, tuber-
culosis, caseous lymphadenitis, leptospirosis,
Q Fever, staphylococcal food poisoning, and
others.(Smith, 1994) Even if you are sure your
milk is pure, that the goats are healthy, that the
milk has been handled with faultless cleanliness
and carefully cooled, and even if you regularly
drink the milk with no ill effects, once the milk
Get the advice of your state
department of health before
you agree to
sell raw milk to
individuals.
photo by Charlie Rahm, USDA NRCS

leaves your farm it may be carelessly handled
and become unsafe to drink. This is especially
hazardous if the person drinking the milk has a
weakened immune system or is very old or very
young. Get the advice of your state department
of health before you agree to sell raw milk to
individuals.
Budgeting
Before beginning a commercial goat dairy,
you must study the economic feasibility of the
enterprise. There are many sample budgets
available, but each must be customized to fit an
individual farm. Investigate feed costs in your
area as well as the selling price of milk. Costs of
building or converting barns, fences, and water-
ing systems are key considerations. Initial invest-
ment in livestock and in milking systems will be
a large expense. Commercial dairy producers
Stephen and Beverly Phillips of Port Madison
Farm near Seattle, Washington, offer the follow-
ing insights based on their experience.
“It takes capital to expand into a commercial-
sized dairy,” Stephen says. “You must have
the money to grow or keep the off-farm job or
both. Sweat equity alone cannot do the job.
“A good plan, written down, is important to
measure your progress. Otherwise, you get
so close to the proverbial trees that you do
not realize that you have made progress.
“When making improvements, it is
important to plan for the size you
may need in four or five years.
“And like most goat dairies, you
need to beware of burnout.”
Beverly sums up her advice by em-
phasizing, “Don’t quit your day job
too soon.”(Thompson, 1997)
Bee Tolman, operator of the Tolman Sheep
Dairy Farm, offered further advice to prospective
dairy farmers at the 2002 8th Great Lakes Dairy
Sheep Symposium.
Do a complete business plan before you do any-
thing else. Include all financial statements in
detail. Don’t miss the details—they will be your
undoing. And be conservative. I was advised
by a goat dairy farmer (who has since folded)
to add 30% to all budgeted costs. I didn’t. I
now know that if I had, my plan would have
been far more accurate.(Tolman, 2002)
As Ms. Tolman points out, it is wise to talk
to farmers who are currently in the business
to ensure that your plan and your budget are
realistic.
Begin your calculations by taking the follow-
ing steps.
Do market research. Is there a market?
What is the current price for your prod-
uct, whether fluid milk for processing,
bottled milk, milk-fed livestock, cheese,
or soap? Is there a strong demand for
your product?
Estimate production level. How many
does are you planning to milk? How
productive will they be, on average?
(Does in a large herd typically produce
less than does in a hobby herd; ask sev-
eral commercial producers what their
herd average is, and be sure to select
does for your herd that can produce
enough milk to be profitable.) Be as re-
alistic about production and marketing
as you possibly can.
Investigate costs. What does feed cost
in your area? How much feed will
you need in order to produce the
amount of milk you plan to produce
and sell? What about buildings, equip-
ment, fencing, hay? You will need to
come up with marketing and hauling
costs, health costs, costs of utilities,
supplies, breeding, and labor. Initial
cost of breeding stock, cost of raising
replacements, and an extra “cushion”
for unexpected expenses must also be
considered. Remember that under-capi-
talization can doom even a good busi-
ness venture.
Consider labor NEEDED and available.
Plan for peak seasons such as kidding
and breeding, as well as any labor
needed for processing and marketing.
Compile a business plan. Your lending
agency will tell you what other figures
are needed; your local Cooperative
Extension agent may be helpful. See
also the Resources section for help with
business plans.
Table 1 illustrates how production levels and
price influence your profits. These numbers are
based on Roger Sahs’ goat dairy budget, which
is included in this publication.
The Minnesota Extension Service published a
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very interesting look at the economics of the dairy
goat business in 1989. Robert D. Appleman, the
author, explored costs and returns from a 10-doe
hobby dairy and a 100-doe commercial dairy. His
budget (Economics of the Dairy Goat Business
— HG-80-3606) can be ordered by contacting
order@dc.mes.umn.edu. He also did some fasci-
nating calculations, such as looking at the impact
of a change in cost of one input on the cost of pro-
ducing 100 pounds of milk, the influence of mar-
keting registered kids, or of marketing kid bucks,
the labor required, and several other interesting
scenarios. It is well worth reading the full article,
and figuring today’s costs for your area instead of
Minnesota’s 1989 costs. Even though the article
is out of date, Appleman’s conclusions offer food
for thought, and are summarized below.
The cost of producing 100 pounds of
goat’s milk may vary from $22 to more
than $37. To return a profit, then, a gal-
lon of milk may have to sell for $3.20 or
more.
The greatest contributor to the high cost
of producing goat’s milk is labor. Every
effort should be made to minimize this
input. The greatest opportunity to ac-
complish this is to mechanize the milk-
ing process.
1.
2.
Table 1. Sensitivity of Milk Production versus Price on Per Head Net Returns above Total
Operating Costs for a 100 Head Commercial Dairy Goat Herd. *
Milk Prod.
(lbs.)
-10%
$21.60
-5%
$22.80
Expected
Price/cwt.
$24.00
+5%
$25.20
+10%
$26.40
-20% 1600 $42.48 $61.68 $80.88 $100.08 $119.28
-10% 1800 $85.68 $107.28 $128.88 $150.48 $172.08
Expected 2000 $128.88 $152.88 $176.88 $200.88 $224.88
+10% 2200 $172.08 $198.48 $224.88 $251.28 $277.68
+20% 2400 $215.28 $244.08 $272.88 $301.68 $330.48
Break-even milk production above total operating costs is 1263 pounds/head at the $24.00 price of
milk.
Break-even milk price/cwt. above total operating costs is $15.16 using a production of 2000
pounds/head.
*Break-even price and production are calculated to cover total operating costs only while keeping
revenues from kid and cull sales constant.
This table was developed using figures from the Dairy Goat Budget developed by the Department
of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University and included in the Economics section of this
publication.(Sahs, 2003)
Marketing costs can be prohibitive.
Unless one has a good market for ex-
cess, it is not advisable to keep young
stock beyond that needed to maintain
the doe herd productivity.
If milk can be sold at a price of $12/
cwt or more, milk-fed kids sold at 25
pounds for 80 cents per pound are not
profitable.
There is an economy to size, especially
when combined with considerable sale
of breeding stock.
Emphasize high production per doe.
Maintaining dry does (non-breeding
does that will have a long dry-pe-
riod) can quickly eliminate any profit
potential.(Appleman, 1989)
Oklahoma State University Extension Spe-
cialist Roger Sahs works on goat farm budgets
for dairy goat and meat goat enterprises (see
attached budget–Table 2). He recommends that
farm managers take the time to work out an en-
terprise budget.
…[an enterprise budget] would be an essential
tool in evaluating whether such an alternative
would be to the manager’s financial advantage.
Farm management skills and knowledge are a
very integral aspect of success with commercial
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
continued on page 10

Dairy Goats 100 Head Unit
Class #2 Grade Herd, Per Doe Basis
Operating Inputs Units Price Quantity Value Your Value
Mixed Feed CWT. 9.050 7.200 65.16 ________
Alfalfa Hay Tons 100.000 0.900 90.00 ________
Vet Medicine HD 10.000 1.000 10.00 ________
Supplies HD 12.000 1.000 12.00 ________
Utilities HD 18.000 1.000 18.00 ________
Doe Repl. Feed HD 32.800 1.000 32.80 ________
Kid Feed HD 22.000 1.000 22.00 ________
Breeding Fees HD 10.000 1.000 10.00 ________
Misc. Expense HD 6.000 1.000 6.00 ________
Marketing Expense HD 2.000 1.750 3.50 ________
Machinery Labor HR 7.500 0.847 6.35 ________
Equipment Labor HR 7.500 1.630 12.23 ________
Livestock Labor HR 7.500 7.692 57.69 ________
Machinery Fuel, Lube, Repairs DOL 5.32 ________
Equipment Fuel, Lube, Repairs DOL 12.57 ________
Total Operating Costs 363.62 ________
Fixed Costs Amount Value Your Value
Machinery
Interest At 6.75% 11.80 0.80 ________
Depr, Taxes, Insurance 2.38 ________
Equipment
Interest At 6.75% 209.71 14.16 ________
Livestock
Doe Goat 105.00 ________
Buck Goat 5.25 ________
Repl Doe-Goat 37.50 ________
Interest At 6.75% 147.75 9.97 ________
Total Fixed Costs 72.52 ________
Production Units Price Quantity Value Your Value
Goat Milk CWT. 24.00 20.00 480.00 ________
Male Kids HD. 20.00 0.90 18.00 ________
Female Kids HD. 50.00 0.65 32.50 ________
Cull Doe Goats HD. 50.00 0.20 10.00 ________
Total
Receipts 540.50 ________
Returns Above Total Operating Cost 176.88 ________
Returns Above All Specified Costs 104.36 ________
5% Doe Death Loss, 200% Kid Crop
10% Kid Death Loss, 25% Doe Repl Rate
(Sahs, 2003)
Developed and processed by Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University
Table 2.

dairies. The ability to bear losses from business
risk, a large capital base, and well trained labor
are also important considerations.(Sahs, 2003)
Spend time working on budgets before com-
mitting the capital to a commercial enterprise.
Show your budget to a commercial producer to
check whether your figures on costs, receipts,
and expected production are realistic; then con-
sider whether your expected return is sufficient
compensation for your efforts. Doing your
homework before taking the plunge will save
you much heartache and expense. Several other
sample budgets are included in this publication
in the Resources section.
Production Notes
Selecting stock
Once you have figured out what products
you will sell, have the business plan and budget
figured out, and are sure there is enough qualified
labor and available capital to sustain the busi-
ness, you are in position to select goats for the
dairy. All the preliminary work will help you
to prioritize and budget the purchases of stock
and equipment, and to have an idea of what type
of goats you need. For instance, commercial
producers of fluid milk will want animals that
produce a lot of milk; depending on the milk
buyer’s priorities, butterfat and protein percent-
ages may also be important. A cheese maker will
be more interested in total protein yield. Those
who plan to sell breeding stock will want to
consider production records, conformation, and
pedigree (including records of related
animals). Those who are marketing
milk through kids may prefer a dual-
purpose animal, such as the Nubian,
that will bear meatier kids. A person
purchasing a family milker will want
to milk the doe to see how easily she milks out,
taste the milk for flavor, and observe her disposi-
tion. An animal that is perfect for one use may
not be the best choice for another.
All buyers will need to find healthy goats
that produce the quantity and quality of milk
needed for their business. That is the essential
part. However, many producers will first choose
a breed that is personally appealing, then find
breeders and visit farms to select goats for the
dairy. Therefore, we will first discuss breeds,
then address finding a breeder, evaluating health,
and production records.
Choosing a breed
Breed choice will depend on how you will
use the milk, the availability of the breed in or
near your area, and personal preference. Since
there are differences in milk composition (%
butterfat, % protein) and the quantity produced,
some breeds will (on average) be more suitable
for some farms than others. However, individu-
als WITHIN breeds vary more than individuals
BETWEEN breeds. For instance, while on aver-
age, Saanens produce more milk than Nubians
(see Table 3), some Nubians will produce more
milk than some Saanens (as illustrated in the
“range” column of the table). Though Nubians
may produce less milk than Saanens, the com-
position of Nubian milk makes it more suitable
for cheesemaking. Therefore, it is important to
select individuals that possess the characteristics
you need. Production records are the best way to
know this. (Production records will be discussed
later in this publication.)
Selecting a breed that is fairly
common in your area may make it
easier to acquire (and to sell) breeding
stock, provided the other producers
have goals and management systems
similar to yours.
Saanens
Dept. of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University
Toggenburg
continued from page 8
common in your area may make it
easier to acquire (and to sell) breeding
stock, provided the other producers
have goals and management systems
similar to yours.
ProvidedbyCrystalD’Eon
Toggenburg
Nubian
Dept. of Animal
Science, Oklahoma
State University

Personal preference plays a
major role in selecting a breed.
Dairy farmers must spend
hours with their animals, so get animals that you
enjoy seeing, that will function on your farm, and
that have dispositions that suit you. This is an
individual choice, best made after observing indi-
viduals of various breeds and working with them,
if possible. General descriptions of the breeds
are given below. Further information about the
breeds and contacts for the breed clubs are avail-
able from the ADGA Web site, www.adga.org.
Descriptions and pictures of the breeds may be
found on the Oklahoma State University Web site
at www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/.
In the United States, there are six full-size
dairy breeds available. They are Saanen, Al-
pine, Toggenburg, and Oberhasli—the Swiss
breeds—and Nubian and LaMancha.
Some producers raise crosses of these breeds;
these crosses are referred to as “experimentals.”
The Swiss breeds have similar body and ear
shapes and similar milk composition.
Saanens tend to be larger than the other
Swiss breeds, and are generally heavy milkers
with slightly lower butterfat percentages. They
are white goats with erect ears and are known
for being gentle and productive milkers with
long lactations. Saanens are sometimes called
“the Holsteins of goats.” Saanens may sunburn
and must have some shade available during hot
weather.
Toggenburgs are recognized by their color
pattern, since they are always brown with white
legs, white stripes down the side of the face, and
other white markings. They are medium sized,
sturdy, and hardy. On average, their milk is
lower in butterfat and in protein percentages than
the other breeds.
Alpines come in a whole
range of colors and color pat-
terns and are slightly smaller
than Saanens. LiketheSaanensandToggenburgs,
the Alpines originated in the cool climate of the
Swiss Alps. Alpines are popular in commercial
herds, and there are more Alpines on production
test than any other breed (as of 2002).
The Oberhasli is a Swiss dairy goat of me-
dium size. Its color is chamoisee (bay, with
deep-red bay preferred, accented with black
markings). Oberhaslis are not as numerous in
the United States as the other breeds, and fewer
Oberhaslis are enrolled in DHI production test-
ing. Therefore, it may be difficult to locate stock,
especially production-tested stock.
Nubians are known for their floppy ears and
for producing milk that is highest in butterfat.
They do not produce as much milk as the other
breeds, and are considered a dual-purpose goat
since they tend to be meatier than other breeds.
Nubians are sometimes referred to as the “Jerseys
of the goat world” and are the most common
breed in the United States. Some producers think
they are not well suited to a commercial dairy
because of their active and energetic disposition.
Others appreciate the Nubian’s contribution to
the bulk tank, especially if the milk is intended
for cheese, yogurt, or ice cream.
LaManchas were developed in the United
States, and these goats are also easily identified
by their distinctive ears. LaManchas have very
tiny ears, and sometimes appear to have no outer
ear at all. LaManchas are smaller than the other
dairy breeds, but they are very good producers
of sweet, creamy milk. Breeders of LaManchas
claim that these goats are docile and sweet-tem-
pered. They can be any color.
LaMancha
Oberhasli
Provided by Dave Battjes
range of colors and color pat
terns and are slightly smaller
Provided by Crystal D’Eon
ProvidedbyKarenLee
Alpines
Dept. of Animal Science,
Oklahoma State University

Visiting a breeder
Visiting other producers can help you select a
breed or breeds. Locating a good breeder is key to
getting your business off to a good start. To find
breeders in your area, you can check with your
local Extension service. The American Dairy Goat
Association (ADGA, www.adga.org) publishes
a directory of breeders every year, including
contact information and a list of breeds raised by
each member. It is well-organized and is free to
members ($35.00 annual dues).
You may want to visit three or four breeders
before making a purchase; this gives you the op-
portunity to compare how the animals are raised,
fed, and housed, and to assess the overall health
of the herd. Ask lots of questions (see the section
below for some suggested questions).
You should try to find a breeder who
Is willing to provide health certificates
Is part of the Dairy Herd Improvement
Association (DHIA)
Allows free access to all production and
breeding records
Manages a farm that has well-cared for
animals and land
Evaluating health
ALL buyers of dairy goats should insist on
healthy goats. There are three main ways to
gather information about the health of a dairy
goat.
visual appraisal
interview the owner or herd veteri-
narian
request that certain tests be
performed, such as
a. mastitis test (by milk culture
or California Mastitis Test)
b. blood tests to check for CAE,
TB, brucellosis, etc
c. fecal tests to screen for inter-
nal parasites
Ideally, all three methods (visual,
interview, and testing) should be used.
First, examine the whole herd, look-
ing for
Shiny coats
Lively manner
Easy movement (no limping,
•
•
•
•
1.
2.
3.
•
•
•
no swollen joints or misshapen udders)
No abscesses
Proper body condition (not fat or exces-
sively thin)
Firm, pelleted manure
Well-shaped udders and teats (sym-
metrical udders)
A herd that meets all these visual criteria
gives evidence of being healthy and well-man-
aged.
Second, interview the herd owner or veteri-
narian.
What diseases have been problems in
this herd?
What criteria do you use for selection or
culling?
What diseases are tested for routinely?
What is the vaccination and parasite
management protocol?
Are replacement kids raised using pas-
teurized milk, to reduce the incidence of
milk-borne diseases such as CAE,
Johne’s, mycoplasma, and others?
How long do does stay productive in
this herd?
How long is the average lactation in this
herd?
What is the average production level of
this herd? (Ask to see records.)
Third, ask that tests be run on the does you
are considering. These tests will increase the
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Visual appraisal is one way to evaluate health.

cost of the animal, and you should be prepared
to absorb at least some of that cost. Some tests
may not be necessary; if the veterinarian certifies
that there are no suspected cases of Johne’s, for
instance, and you observe that all animals appear
healthy, you may choose to forgo the Johne’s
test. Check with your veterinarian about which
diseases are occurring in your area, and get his
or her recommendations on which diseases are
worth testing for.
Buying healthy stock initially will save you
much money, time, and disappointment in the
long run. Diseases shorten the productive life
of the animal and reduce the chances of a profit-
able farm; therefore, it is wise to spend effort and
money in the beginning to secure healthy ani-
mals. See the Health section of this publication
and of the ATTRA publication Goats: Sustainable
Production Overview for more information about
some diseases to be aware of.
Production records
Having verified that the stock is healthy, the
next concern is their productivity. Keeping your
needs (that is, the needs of your dairy products
customers) in mind, investigate the productive
potential of each animal. Production records
from the Dairy Herd Improvement Association
(DHIA) of the individual and of its relatives offer
the best insurance that you are purchasing a pro-
ductive animal. Type classification, also known
as linear appraisal (an objective score given by
a trained judge, who provides a professional
appraisal of an animal’s conformation), may be
available and offers another tool for selecting
animals with desirable traits. Pedigree records
are also very useful, since they give information
about the genetic makeup of the animal. For a
complete description of these tools and how to
use them, as well as a wealth of information about
what to look for in a good dairy goat, see Dairy
Goat Judging Techniques, by Harvey Considine.
This book can be ordered from www.dairygoat-
journal.com/bookstore.html for $16.95.
When examining production records, keep
in mind that production is naturally much lower
during the first lactation. Examine the records
to see overall production in pounds, length of
lactation, and butterfat and protein percentages
(if those are important to your operation). Bear
in mind that your own management will be a
major factor in the doe’s production on your farm;
production records only verify that a goat has
the genetic potential to produce milk. To learn
more about production records, type evaluation
(linear appraisal), and the DHI program, visit the
American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) Web
site, www.adga.org.
DHI records are useful when purchasing
goats, but are even more useful as a management
Table 3.
ADGA BREED AVERAGES-2002 LACTATIONS
DOES 275-305 DAYS
IN MILK
Number
of Does
AVE. AGE
at START of
LACTATION
MILK lbs RANGE
BUTTERFAT
% lbs
PROTEIN
% lbs
ALPINE 699 3y2m 2254 840-5300 3.5 78 2.9 64
LAMANCHA 216 3y3m 2097 1050-3510 3.9 81 3.1 65
NUBIAN 445 2y11m 1746 640-3670 4.8 84 3.7 65
OBERHASLI 68 2y11m 2062 990-3629 3.7 76 2.9 61
SAANEN 432 2y6m 2468 970-5630 3.4 84 2.9 71
TOGGENBURG 184 3y5m 2015 860-4480 3.2 64 2.7 55
Based on 2002 ADGA DHIR Individual Doe Records
Averages compiled by the ADGA Production Testing Committee

tool after purchase. In some areas, the cost is as
low as $2.00/month/goat. From the information
you can
Measure real productivity
Track persistency through the lactation
Evaluate the effect of a feed change
Select your best producers and cull the
lowest ones
Identify potential mastitis problems
Improve the profitability of your herd
•
•
•
•
•
•
Producers who are on DHI test say that it
costs nothing, because it returns such valuable
information that it more than pays for itself.
Eliminating unproductive individuals will im-
prove the sustainability of your farm; records are
the best tool in this effort. For more information
about production testing and to locate a DHI in
your area, talk to local producers, contact your
local Extension agent, or visit the Animal Im-
provement Programs Laboratory (AIPL) Web
site at www.aipl.arsusda.gov/. (The AIPL site
(The following was adapted from an
article by Jennifer Bice in the Dairy Goat Jour-
nal, September/October 2003. Ms. Bice is the
owner of Redwood Hill Farm. The complete
article, including a diary kept by Redwood
Hill’s farm manager, can be found on page
57-60 of that issue.)
Redwood Hill Farm Grade
A Goat Dairy is located
in Sebastopol, Sonoma
Country, California. Se-
bastopol is near the coast,
about 50 miles north of
San Francisco. Redwood
Hill Farm is a “farmstead
operation” because in addition
to producing a unique line of arti-
sanal goat-milk cheeses and goat-milk yogurt
in five flavors, the farm manages its own herd
of 400 dairy goats (Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian
and Saanen).
The farm was started in the 1960s by Ken-
neth and Cynthia Bice and their 10 children.
Active in 4-H with many different animal
species, the family quickly made dairy goats
their favorites. Jennifer Bice and her husband,
Steven Schack, took over the family farm in
1978 and expanded the business and product
line. Steven died in 1999, and Jennifer knew
that continuing the business would be the best
way to honor his memory.
With a herd of 400 registered dairy goats,
a Grade A dairy, and a processing plant,
Redwood Hill Farm employs 12 people, as
well as 5 work exchange students from other
countries. These students stay for 12 to 18
months. They come from agricultural col-
lege programs in their own countries to live,
work, and learn in the United States. While
the students don’t always have direct
dairy goat experience, they
learn quickly and are high-
ly motivated. Currently
Redwood Hill Farm has
students from Bulgaria,
Hungary, Turkey, Hon-
duras, and France.
Redwood Hill Farm
is now building a larger
processing plant to meet the
demand for its goat milk products.
From award-winning animals (including
ADGA National Champions in four breeds)
to gold medal awards for their cheese and
yogurt at product competitions, Redwood
Hill Farm strives to be the best. That, along
with providing a good life for its employees
and the dairy goats themselves, is a big part
of the Redwood Hill Farm mission.
This story was written for the introduction to
the Commercial Dairy Diary feature in the Dairy
Goat Journal, September/October 2003. For a
copy of this article/issue or other issues, please go
to www.dairygoatjournal.com or call 1-800-551-
5691. For more on Redwood Hill Farm, see their
Web site at www.redwoodhill.com.
Redwood Hill Farm, California
Jennifer Bice
© Bojan Senjur

contains production, type, and pedigree records
compiled by ADGA and DHI, as well as other
information.) The American Dairy Goat Associa-
tion (www.adga.org) also provides information
about production testing and type evaluation.
Finally, when selecting stock, keep in mind
that the most important part of the herd is the
buck. As the sire of your next generation, the
buck is “half of your herd,” and choosing an ex-
cellent buck is the quickest way to improve the
herd. Again, production records (on the dam,
daughters, and on any other relatives) are the best
way to assess the usefulness of the buck. Linear
appraisal will also be helpful, if available. The
sire you select should come from good bloodlines
and be healthy and fertile. Your veterinarian can
perform a breeding soundness evaluation before
purchase. If that option is not available, at least
check the scrotal circumference
of the prospective sire (it should
be at least 20 cm.), to get an
indication of sperm-producing
potential. It is not a guarantee
of fertility, however. Please refer
to Goats: Sustainable Production
Overview for more details on
selecting a buck and evaluating
breeding stock.
Choosing healthy stock with
good genetics is an important
step in setting up a sustainable
farm. However, in order to live
up to their potential, the animals
must be well managed and cor-
rectly fed. In order to make a
profit with dairy goats, this must
be accomplished economically.
Feeding
To review the information contained in the
Overview, goats are ruminants, and their health
and productivity depend on the rumen function.
Microorganisms in the rumen digest fiber, car-
bohydrates, and protein and supply the animal
with nutrients. Without those microorganisms,
the goat will die. Therefore, it is of paramount
importance that the animal is fed appropriately
to keep the ruminal organisms healthy.
The rumen microorganisms are “healthiest”
when goats are eating good-quality forages,
such as vegetative pasture. To get the best milk
production from your goats, you must provide
excellent quality forages. A pasture that contains
many kinds of plants, including browse plants
such as blackberries, multiflora roses, willows,
or Russian olive, is ideal. Cool-season annuals
such as ryegrass will provide a lush, high protein
forage in the early spring before many other
grasses are tall enough to graze. In the winter,
a good mixed-grass hay (cut at an early stage of
maturity) is ideal. Goats will eat a wide variety
of plants, including weeds. They are selective
eaters that will seek the most nutritious plants
while grazing, browsing, or eating hay. They are
also wasteful eaters, and therefore it is wise to
help them use their feed more efficiently by con-
trolling their grazing and by feeding them only
a little more hay than they will clean up. There
is a trade-off here; if you allow goats to be very
selective, they will waste more feed, but they will
produce more milk. If you are too strict with their
forage allowance, you will save
money on feed but lose income
from milk. Experience and ex-
perimentation with your own
herd and farm will help you find
that happy medium. For more
information about pastures and
rotational grazing, see the AT-
TRA publications Sustainable
Pasture Management, Rotational
Grazing, Introduction to Paddock
Design, and Matching Livestock
Needs and Forage Resources. Also
check with your local Extension
and NRCS agents for informa-
tion about what forage plants do
well in your area. Information
about the grazing habits of goats
is provided in the ATTRA pub-
lication Goats: Sustainable Production Overview.
Some studies about pastures for dairy goats are
discussed below.
Steve Hart and B. R. Min at Langston Uni-
versity are doing research on grazing-based
dairy goat production systems (see Resources:
Contacts). Dr. Hart points out that the “goal of
pasture management is to supply high quality
pasture starting at the beginning of lactation and
maintain high quality forage in sufficient quanti-
ties throughout lactation.” This is very difficult
and requires the establishment of several types of
forage. At Langston (in Oklahoma), they grazed
cool season annuals such as wheat, rye, or oats,
perennials such as orchardgrass, Berseem clover
interseeded with wheat, and warm season grasses
money on feed but lose income
from milk. Experience and ex
perimentation with your own
herd and farm will help you find
that happy medium. For more
information about pastures and
rotational grazing, see the AT
TRA publications
Pasture Management
Grazing
Design
Needs and Forage Resources
check with your local Extension
and NRCS agents for informa
tion about what forage plants do
well in your area. Information
about the grazing habits of goats
is provided in the ATTRA pub

it showed up. Because I could
measure milk production on a
daily basis, the sensitivity was
much more noticeable with the
goats than if I had been run-
ning steers… There was also a
noticeable correlation between
paddock moves, length of stay,
and milk production. During
the first three days in a fresh
paddock, milk production
would rise then fall during the next three days
from 5 to 10 percent. Another move to a fresh
paddock would cause a 2 to 11 percent rise, then
as the stay lengthened, milk production would
start dropping again even though there was
still a large amount of forage left in the pad-
dock. This leads me to believe that I need more
and smaller paddocks, more moves, and more
goats to fully utilize the forage available while
keeping pasture production up.(Baker, 1998)
As mentioned previously, Drs. Hart and Min
at Langston University have been conducting
research on grazing dairy goats. As part of this
work, goats were fed four different rations:
A — Control: Kept in the barn, fed alfalfa
hay and a high level of grain (2/3 lb. of
grain for every pound of milk over 3.3 lbs.).
B — Grazed and fed 2/3 lb. of grain
for every pound of milk over 3.3 lbs.
C — Grazed and fed 1/3 lb. of grain
for every pound of milk over 3.3 lbs.
D — Grazed, no supplemental grain.
Researchers found that body condition of the
does greatly influenced milk production, with
thinner does being less productive during the
lactation. Internal parasite problems also had a
negative effect on production. Milk production
responded to grain, increasing by 1.7 pounds
for every added pound of supplemental feed.
However, in the second year of the study, when
such as crabgrass, sudangrass, millet, Johnson-
grass, and cowpeas. While it is important to
have an assortment of forages available, it is also
crucial to maintain those forages in a vegetative
state, because that is when their protein levels
and digestibility are highest.
At the same time, it is very important to
control grazing so goats do not graze too close
to the ground, since that will hurt the plants’
ability to regrow and will expose the animals
to more parasite larvae.
Removing goats from the
pasture when they have
grazed the grasses down
to about 3 to 4” will greatly
reduce parasite problems.
Another practice that will
help is to graze cattle after
the goats to pick up larvae
and “clean” the pasture.
Tilling or making hay after
grazing will also help. More
information about internal
parasites is provided in the ATTRA publication
Integrated Parasite Management for Livestock.
In 2001, producers Kristan Doolan and
George van Vlaanderen of Does’ Leap Farm in
Vermont conducted a Northeast SARE project
comparing the production of dairy goats that
either grazed pasture or browsed in a wooded
area (see Resources: SARE Project Producers).
In that experiment, the goats that browsed pro-
duced more milk and had longer lactations. The
investigators concluded that browse is at least as
nutritious as pasture, and that the shade in the
browse areas helped keep the does cooler, which
also helped production. The full article was pub-
lished in The Dairy Ruminant Newsletter and then
re-printed in CreamLine, Winter 2002 issue.
Darrell Baker also used SARE funding to
explore the potential for using irrigated pasture
at his dairy in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Over a
two-year period, Mr. Baker made observations
and kept financial and production records. He
concluded that irrigated pasture provided a very
environmentally friendly way to produce milk,
and that dairy goats were a profitable way to
use irrigated pasture. His observations are of
interest, and we offer the following excerpt from
his final report.
…I also noticed that the goats have an incredible
sensitivity to pasture quality. I was expecting
this to some degree, but not to the degree that
Goats will eat a wide variety of plants

the does were kidded in better body condition,
does fed no supplemental grain produced 7.74 lb.
milk/day, while those in the barn produced 8.91
lb/day, and the does fed a small amount of grain
(1/3 lb. for each pound of milk over 3.3 lb/day)
produced 9.17 lb/day.
Considering the cost of grain and alfalfa hay,
it seems likely that the goats on pasture were
much more economical to feed and produced
comparable quantities of milk. This has implica-
tions for those considering organic dairies and
for others who want to reduce feed costs. Hart
notes that butterfat percentages were lower in
the second year for goats that were not supple-
mented. He also notes that having high-quality
forage available in adequate amounts is the key to
feeding dairy goats on pasture. The full descrip-
tion of this research is available on-line at www2.
luresext.edu/goats/library/ﬁeld/hart02.html.
As stated earlier, rumen microorganisms are
“healthiest” and milk production is highest when
goats are eating high-quality forage. However,
it is difﬁcult (if not impossible) to provide good-
quality pasture year round. Also, dairy goats
have a high requirement for nutrients because
they are producing milk at a high level. Therefore,
supplementation with concentrates will usually
be necessary.
Care is needed when feeding concentrates
(grain) to balance the energy needs of the goat
and to protect the ruminal organisms. With this
in mind, there are some general rules for feeding
dairy goats.
Graze goats on the highest-quality
forage available, and be sure there is
a plentiful supply of good pasture or
good-quality hay.
Lactating dairy goats need about 5
pounds of feed per day (dry matter
basis) per 100 pounds of goat, with
at least half of this being forage. Some
goats will eat even more during peak
lactation (up to 6% of body weight on a
dry matter basis).
Goats require 12 to 14% protein in their
diets (the higher amount is for growing
kids or high-producing does).
Limit the feeding of grains so that the
pH of the rumen stays in a favorable
range.
Increase grain levels very slowly (.2 lb
every 3 or 4 days, to a maximum of no
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
more than 50% of the diet).(Hart, 2004)
Feed cracked rather than ground grains
to encourage rumination and thus sal-
ivation, which helps to buffer rumen
acids and maintain favorable rumen
pH.
If you must feed high-concentrate diets
(for example, to an extremely high-
producing doe during peak lactation),
divide grain into several small feedings
and offer sodium bicarbonate to help
buffer the rumen.
If diets are not high enough in rough-
age, it may be necessary to feed a buffer
(such as sodium bicarbonate) at 4% of
the concentrate ration in order to main-
tain butterfat production.(Smith, 1994)
It is always important to monitor the
feed consumption of your herd. If they
are not cleaning up their grain, grain
should be reduced and better quality
forage offered.
Because of the lactation curve, individual
requirements change over the course of the year.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Guidelines for supplementing
lactating does
Start the doe on grain a month before
kidding and have her consuming
about 1.5 lbs of grain by the time she
kids. This allows the rumen organ-
isms to slowly adapt.
After kidding, increase grain slowly
to about 3 lbs/day by 4 weeks post-
kidding.
After peak lactation, feed according
to milk production. Feed 1/2 lb of
grain for every pound of milk over 3
lbs milk/day, along with good qual-
ity forage. For example, a goat pro-
ducing 8 pounds a day would get all
the good forage she could eat plus
2 ½ pounds of grain, split into two
feedings (5 lb. milk over 3 lb. x ½ lb
feed/lb milk).
Never feed more than 4 pounds of
grain to a doe per day.
(Hart, 2004, and Smith, 1994)
•
•
•
•

Producers generally adjust the amount of supple-
mentary feed, rather than change the ration com-
position. Care must be taken to avoid sudden
changes in diet, and careful observation is needed
to monitor body condition and milk production
so that supplementary feed may be increased
or decreased when necessary. Over-feeding is
wasteful and counter-productive, as it may result
in does that are too fat, have birthing problems,
and do not milk well. On the other hand, under-
feeding in late gestation will place the doe at risk
for metabolic diseases (pregnancy toxemia) and
may also reduce production through the lacta-
tion period. The safest bet seems to be to allow
the pregnant doe plenty of good-quality forage
— and be sure the doe is indeed eating plenty of
it. Allow 4 pounds of forage (dry matter basis)
per 100 pounds live weight of the doe.
Does that consume a lot of forage during
late pregnancy will continue to eat ample forage
after kidding, will be less susceptible to digestive
disorders, and will yield more milk at the same
concentrate level. One French study looked at the
effects of the ration during late pregnancy and
early lactation. One group of Alpine goats was
fed a well-balanced diet, including alfalfa hay (as
much as they wanted) and a limited amount of
grain during late pregnancy, with a slow increase
in grain during early lactation. Another group
was fed a restricted amount of hay, a large quan-
tity of grain during late pregnancy, and a quickly
increasing amount of grain after kidding. Each
of the goats fed ample amounts of hay produced
about 148 pounds more milk on average during
the first 12 weeks of lactation than the goats fed
a restricted amount of hay, a large quantity of
grain during late pregnancy, and a fast increase
in the amount of grain fed after kidding.(Morand-
Fehr, 1978)
Hart’s research at Langston University (see
Resources: Contacts) has also been exploring
the effect of level of grain supplementation on
milk production. See the Langston Web site at
www.luresext.edu/goats/index.htm for more
information.
While the focus of this section is on feeding
lactating does, you should remember that the care
and feeding of kids and replacement animals is
equally important. Kids kept for replacements
should be fed lots of good quality forage so that
they can reach 75% of their mature body weight
in about 8 months. Breeding does to freshen as
yearlings will increase their lifetime production.
To increase your understanding of the kid’s di-
gestive system and how to feed young animals,
refer to www.gov.on.ca/english/
livestock/goat/facts/goatnutrition.htm,
and www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/artificial-
feeding.html. Another resource with information
on kid rearing is the Dairy Goat Production Guide,
by Harris and Springer, University of Florida.
This guide includes a good general overview
of raising dairy goats and is available on-line at
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/DS134.
Milking
Goat milk production is usually seasonal in
the U.S., with most dairy goats being bred in the
fall and kidding in the spring. However, year
round production is required by some markets,
and it is possible by staggering kidding. This is
done by breeding does out of season, which re-
quires extra management. Milk production will
be less in the does producing out of season com-
Here is a sample ration for lactating
dairy goats that provides 15% protein
and should be fed with good alfalfa hay.
Corn 100 lbs.
Oats 100 lbs.
Soybean meal,
crumbles or pellets
50 lbs.
Dairy mineral l3 lbs.
Cane molasses 15 lbs.
Salt 3 lbs.
Total weight: 271 lbs.
(Considine, 1996)
The care and feeding of kids and
replacement animals is just as
important as feeding lactating does.
www.cybernet1.com/goatbros

pared to does freshening in the spring. Therefore,
producers will need to get a premium milk price
to offset the lower production in the off season.
Goats usually lactate for eight to ten months
and produce about 750 quarts of milk during that
time.(Considine,1996) Thisisapproximately1500
pounds (“a pint’s a pound,” roughly, so a quart is
two pounds) and is not sufficient production to
sustain a viable commercial operation, according
to tatiana Stanton of Cornell University.(Stanton,
2003) She estimates a commercial fluid milk
operation needs more than 2000 pounds of milk
production per head in order to be profitable.
Again, this reinforces the value of production
records so that the profitable animals can be
identified, while unproductive (and therefore
unprofitable) goats can be culled.
Milking must be done on a routine schedule.
Most farmers milk twice a day at 12 hour inter-
vals. Milking can also be done three times a day.
There will be an increase in milk yield, but often
the increased yield is not worth the extra time and
labor involved in milking three times a day. There
has also been research on milking goats once a
day. Milking once a day decreases milk yields,
especially in early lactation. Milk from goats
milked once a day contained higher percentages
of total solids, yet total solid yield was less than
does milked twice a day.(Salama, 2003)
You should milk young, healthy animals
first, and oldest animals last. This decreases the
spread of infections and disease. Calm, low-
stress handling of the does at milking time will
aid in reaching optimum milk production. You
should strip the teats before milking to observe
any abnormalities in the milk. Some of the ab-
normalities that may be seen are clots or little
butter-like chunks in the milk or stringy milk.
Both are evidence of mastitis. Each doe will take
two minutes to milk out.(Mowlen, 1992) During
milking time it is a good idea to inspect the does
for any signs of injury or disease.
Hand milking is efficient for herds of up to
a dozen or so goats. Many hand-milkers use a
seamless, stainless steel pail with a hood or cover
to keep out debris. Many producers find that
milking is a good time to feed the doe grain. This
keeps the doe occupied and standing still during
milking. Using a milking stand provides several
benefits. It keeps the doe tied and standing still
and also puts the doe at a comfortable height for
the milker. See the hand-milking sketch for an
example of a milking stand (Illustration 1).
A platform can also be used when hand
milking or when using a milking machine. The
platform should be 15 to 18 inches high and con-
structed so each animal has adequate space to be
tied. Allow 3½ feet in length for each doe and 18
inches in width. Does will mount the platform
by steps or a ramp. It is vital that the ramp/steps
be made so that the goats will not slip. Slipping
just once can make does reluctant to go up to the
platform.
For herds larger than 15 or 20 goats, it is often
more economical and practical to machine milk.
Milking machines for small-scale operations are
available from Caprine Supply and Hoegger Sup-
ply Company, among others. Farms with more
than 50 goats will require a large and efficient
milking parlor, designed for convenience and in
compliance with regulations. When herd size jus-
tifies a parlor, there are several designs to choose
from. Milking can be done from the front, back,
or side of the doe, and milk can go directly into
the bulk tank or first go into recorder jars that let
you monitor individual production.
Proper sanitation, proper vacuum levels,
and proper milking machine maintenance will
also reduce the risk of mastitis. Monitor your
equipment to make sure that it is functioning
properly. Fluctuation of the vacuum in the milk-
ing machine can cause backwash, which allows
intramammary transmission of bacteria. Also, a
doe with teats that are the wrong shape or size
can cause vacuum problems. To minimize this
risk, milk young, healthy udders first, and then
milk abnormal does last.
Whatever the parlor design, it is crucial that
your parlor is set up so animals move in and out
quickly. If the parlor is set up inefficiently, milk-
ing time will increase dramatically. Visit several
farms to see possible layouts and talk to current
producers about the advantages and disadvan-
tages of their designs. Because parlors will be
used twice daily for many years and require a
major financial investment, it is important that
they be carefully planned.
Regardless of the milking set-up and method,
you must maintain sanitary practices, from clean-
ing the teats before milking to handling the milk.
Teat sanitation is probably the most critical step
in milking. Milking time, milk quality, and risk of
mastitis (see Health section) all depend on how
teats are cleaned.
There are several different methods of clean-
ing the teats before milking. You can spray the

teats with water using a low-pressure nozzle.
The water should be warm and may contain a
sanitizer. The teats must then be dried, usually
using paper towels. The problem with spraying is
that too much water gets on the udder, and dirty
water ends up on the teats and in the teatcups.
This leads to contaminated milk and an increase
in mastitis. For these reasons, spraying with a
low-pressure nozzle is not recommended unless
the teats are very dirty (which should not occur if
sanitation is adequate). There are premoistened
towels (similar to baby wipes) that are available
to clean the teats. These towels are easy to use
and work well on teats that are not very dirty.
The drawback to these towels is that they are
expensive.
Predippingisanotherwaytocleanteatsbefore
milking. Most experts consider it the best sanitiz-
ing procedure to reduce mastitis.(Levesque, 2004)
The whole teat should be covered with disinfec-
tant (some producers use the same disinfectant
for pre- and post-dipping, and others choose a
less expensive predip) that is then left on the teat
for 15 to 30 seconds. The teat is then wiped dry.
Illustration 1
From: Raising Goats for Milk and Meat, by Rosalee Sinn. Drawing by
Barbara Carter. Courtesy of Heifer Project International.

This is important for teat stimulation and to make
sure all of the disinfectant is removed before
milking. The teats can be dried with individual
paper towels (never use the same towel on more
than one doe) or cloth towels (individual as well).
Cloth towels dry and stimulate better than paper
towels and in the long run are cheaper.(Levesque,
2004) If using cloth towels, you must prop-
erly sanitize them
between milkings,
by using hot water
and bleach and dry-
ing them in a clothes
dryer.
Whatever meth-
od is used for clean-
ing the teats, it must
be done thoroughly
and consistently. You
must also realize that
nodisinfectantwillbe
efficient on very dirty
teats. Some teats may
have to be washed
and then disinfected. Once you have the teat
clean, disinfected, and dry, do not touch it again
before milking or you will put bacteria back on
it. After milking, the teats must be dipped in dis-
infectant called teat dip (usually iodine). The teat
canal is relaxed and dilated after milking, which
makes it more vulnerable to bacteria. That is why
disinfecting after milking is crucial in preventing
mastitis.
Sanitary practices must also be used when
handling the milk. After milking, strain the milk
with a disposable filter, and then cool the milk
immediately. Ice-water baths work well for small
scale operations. A bulk tank cooler is necessary
for larger operations, and it must chill the milk
to 45 degrees F within two hours.
All milking equipment must be thoroughly
cleaned and sanitized after using. Milk residue
must be removed, and all milk contact surfaces
must be cleaned thoroughly to remove bacte-
ria. Milk residue should be immediately rinsed
out with warm (100-115° F) water. The utensils
should be cleaned with soap and a scrub brush,
immediately rinsed, and hung on a rack so that
they are dry prior to the next milking. Utensils
must be sanitized with a chlorine solution im-
mediately prior to milking.
Strict sanitation is necessary to prevent dis-
eases and is critical for food safety. It requires time
and money, but it is time and money well spent. It
is cheaper to prevent disease and contamination
than to treat it. A good reference for producers
considering a commercial dairy is the Small Rumi-
nant Guidelines from the Dairy Practices Council.
These Guidelines include a wealth of technical
information about the details of setting up a
milking parlor, producing quality milk and farm-
stead cheese, proper
handling of wastewa-
ter, and much more.
The Guidelines are sold
separately or as a set;
the set costs about
$70.00 plus shipping
and handling and is
assembled in a binder
for easy storage and
reference. For more
about this resource,
see www.dairypc.org,
or call 732-203-1194.
For a commercial
dairy operation this is
an invaluable tool.
Does are bred to freshen once a year and are
usually allowed a two to three month nonlactat-
ing (dry) period before the next parturition. This
allows the mammary system time to repair and
regenerate for the next lactation. The greater
a doe’s production, the longer the dry period
should be, because she has used more nutrients
than an average-producing doe. She will need
more time to replenish losses and store reserves.
Does that are not given a normal dry period
usually produce only 65 to 75% as much milk
in the subsequent lactation as does given a dry
period.(Harris and Springer,1996) It is important
for does to be dried off in good body condition
and have a minimum of an eight week dry pe-
riod. When drying off a doe you should reduce
the quantity and quality of her diet. Grain should
be reduced or removed, and she should be given
a lower quality of hay. Changing the doe’s rou-
tine will assist in reducing milk flow. You must
continue to monitor drying-off does, because it
is common for mastitis to develop during this
time.
Health
The Overview contains information about
health issues that are important for all goats,
including internal parasites, Caprine arthritis
Farms with more than 50 goats will require
a large and efficient milking parlor
© New Holland Magazine

encephalitis, abortion, footrot, caseous lymph-
adenitis, contagious ecthyma, and fly control.
This publication provides discussion about three
additional diseases of particular interest to dairy
goat producers: mastitis, Johne’s disease, and
ketosis.
Mastitis
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary
gland. It is usually caused by the bacterium staph-
ylococcus or streptococcus, but it can also be caused
by other bacteria, such as mycoplasm, e. coli, and
pseudomonas, or by improper milking machine
operation. Symptoms include pain, heat, red-
ness, swelling, and a hard udder. Mastitis causes
a reduction in production and in profitability.
Does will not always show physical symptoms
of mastitis. A decrease in milk production and an
increase of somatic cell counts are good indicators
of mastitis. Somatic cell counts rise in late lacta-
tion, so a rise in SCC is not always an indicator
of infection. Milk samples can be cultured to
determine the organism causing mastitis (strep.,
staph., or mycoplasma). Mycoplasma is cultured
differently from staph. and strep., so you must
request the milk test for mycoplasma; it will not
show up on the staph/strep test. Streptococcus infec-
tions are responsive to antibiotics and are fairly
easy to eradicate. Staphylococcus infections do not
respond well to antibiotic treatment. Mycoplasma
is less common than staph. and strep., but it is
highly contagious and is usually the culprit in
herds experiencing outbreaks of clinical mastitis
that resist therapy. Mycoplasma can be transmit-
ted to the kid through the milk. Raising kids on
pasteurized milk will reduce the incidence of my-
coplasma in the herd. Once a doe is infected with
mycoplasma, she will be a lifelong carrier and will
shed the organism in her milk and feces. There is
no effective treatment for mycoplasmal mastitis,
but it can be controlled. You must identify infect-
ed animals by culturing milk samples and then
segregate or cull infected animals. The California
Mastitis Test (CMT) is another tool for detecting
mastitis. The CMT is cheap and easy, but is not
very sensitive for goats. The CMT is more useful
for ruling out mastitis than for diagnosing it in
goats.(Smith, 1994)
Other causes of mastitis may include injury,
malnutrition, or a contaminated or malfunction-
ing milking system. The first line of defense
against mastitis is healthy teat skin. The cause
of teat injury must be quickly identified and
eliminated. Mastitis is also linked to diets defi-
cient in vitamins A and E, selenium, and copper.
Fluctuations in the milking vacuum, improperly
designed and improperly functioning milking
equipment can also lead to mastitis.
Johne’s Disease
Johne’s Disease is a contagious, chronic,
usually fatal bacterial infection of the intestinal
tract. This disease primarily occurs in ruminants,
To implement a mastitis control
program
Examine udders twice daily at milking
for abnormal secretions of milk (e.g.,
lumps or stringy milk) and hot, swol-
len udders. Treat early if mastitis is
detected.
Wash (with a minimum of water) and
dry teats before milking. Remove the
milking machine promptly when milk
flow has ceased.
Use a recommended teat dip following
each milking to decrease entry into the
udder of mastitis-causing organisms.
Dry treat (infuse teat with antibiot-
ics) at drying off to kill bacteria in the
udder.
If milking by machine, have equip-
ment checked periodically to be sure
that it is functioning properly.
Employ strict sanitation practices so
that mastitis is not spread from one
goat to another, including using in-
dividual towels for cleaning the teats
and disinfecting the milking machine
after milking a goat with mastitis.
Treat all cases of mastitis promptly
and properly with antibiotics. Record
all treatments and note the withdrawal
times for milk and slaughter. If re-
treatment is necessary, use a different
antibiotic, as bacteria vary in their
resistance to different antibiotics. In
problem cases, have your veterinarian
culture a milk sample to determine the
most effective treatment.(Pennington,
no date)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

with different serotypes of the bacteria infecting
cattle and goats. Johne’s can be difficult to detect
because an animal can be infected for months
and not show signs. Clinical cases of Johne’s
rarely occur before one year of age and are
most commonly seen in two- and three-year old
goats.(Smith, 1994) By the time a clinical case is
detected in a herd, there will usually be several
sub-clinical carriers of the disease (animals not
showing signs). Carriers of the disease shed the
bacteria, which can survive in the environment
for more than a year.
Weight loss while maintaining a good ap-
petite is the best indicator of Johne’s Disease in
goats. Cattle have diarrhea when infected, but
this is not usually a clinical sign in infected goats.
There is no known treatment for Johne’s, but
there are several tests that can be used to detect
the disease. Many diagnostic labs offer ELISA
and AGID tests to detect and confirm cases of
Johne’s. Fecal testing and tissue sampling can
also be used to detect the disease. Johne’s is not
considered a major problem for goat producers,
but it is a disease that can cause problems if in-
troduced into a herd.
Ketosis
Ketosis is a term for a metabolic condition
whereby the animal cannot or will not consume
enough energy to meet its needs. Goats are at
risk for ketosis during late pregnancy (pregnancy
toxemia) and during early lactation (lactational
ketosis).
Pregnancy toxemia can be
caused by either underfeeding
or overfeeding in early preg-
nancy. For instance, a doe that is
carrying more than one kid and
is not fed enough energy will
be ketotic. An over-fed doe will
have less capacity to eat because
the full uterus plus internal fat
stores take up too much space,
thus limiting the amount of feed
the doe can hold. Also, feeding
too much grain (or corn silage)
in late pregnancy will cause
the doe to develop acidosis;
this puts the doe off feed and
may contribute to pregnancy
toxemia.
Similarly, rapidly increased
energy demands during early
lactation cause high-producing dairy goats to
lose weight and condition, as they can not eat
enough to meet their needs. A gradual increase
in the amount of grain offered (.2 lb every 3 days)
(Smith, 1994) will meet enough of the energy
needs to protect against ketosis, but will not trig-
ger acidosis.
Treatment of ketosis involves improving
the diet by offering better quality roughage and
slowly increasing concentrates. Propylene glycol
is also given to increase blood sugar levels, but
overdoses can be fatal; Mary Smith of Cornell
University recommends 60 ml given two or three
times daily.(Smith, 1994) In cases where the dis-
ease has progressed and the doe is unable to eat
or to get up, consult your veterinarian. If the doe
is within one week of her due date, inducing the
doe to kid or performing a C-section may save
either the kids or the doe.
Treatment of mild acidosis (when the doe is
off feed because of over-eating grain) involves
offering the best quality hay and withholding
grain to allow the rumen to recover. Plenty of
water, oral antacids, and oral tetracycline may
help. Severe acidosis may kill the doe; the goat
will be off feed, the rumen ceases to function,
and the animal may groan, grind teeth, have
constipation followed by diarrhea, and go down.
This is a very serious condition; consult your
veterinarian immediately if you suspect the goat
has over-eaten grain.
Again, prevention is best; increase concen-
trates very slowly, and do not feed finely ground
Paying attention to your
animals and to selection,
nutrition, and sanitation
will increase the health and
productivity of your herd.
Dr. Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, North Carolina State University

grain (cracked is preferable). Protect the rumen
organisms by feeding several small feedings
rather than one large feeding, and offer forage
first.(Smith, 1994) Steve Hart recommends that
you start a doe on grain a month before kidding
and gradually work up to 1.5 pounds of grain (in
two feedings) by kidding time; then gradually
increase (.2 lb. change every 3 or 4 days) until you
are feeding .5 pounds of grain for every pound
of milk over 3 lbs./day, always providing good
quality forage or hay. Never feed more than 4
pounds of grain per day, and use cracked corn
rather than ground to reduce the incidence of
acidosis.(Hart, 2004)
See ATTRA’s Goats: Sustainable Production
Overview for information about other significant
health problems, including CAE, CL, internal
parasites, abortion, soremouth, and footrot.
Further information about disease prevention
and treatment can be found by consulting your
veterinarian and by exploring the resources listed
at the end of this publication.
Remember that for all diseases, prevention is
better than treatment. Paying attention to your
animals and to selection, nutrition, and sanita-
tion will increase the health and productivity of
your herd.
Conclusion
The decision to start a dairy goat operation is
not easy. You probably will not become rich, but
if you like goats, have the markets and an under-
standing of them, and have the time to build a
business, this can be a rewarding enterprise.
There is much more to learn about dairy goat
production, and the Resources section will help
you to find more information. Your best source
of information is another farmer; talk to as many
as you can, and learn from their experience.
“Sustainability” is proven with time, and the
following story illustrates some of the necessary
ingredients for a sustainable dairy goat business.
Our thanks to the author/farmer, Debbie Taylor,
for sharing her story.

Blufftop Farm, Arkansas
Debbie and Randy Taylor
By Debbie Taylor, 2004
Blufftop Farm is located in Pope County,
Arkansas, in the foothills of the Ozark moun-
tains. The soil is sandy and shallow. Most
of our farm is used to grow timber of many
species.
We (my husband Randy and I) began
raising goats in 1974 as a hobby and for milk
for ourselves. We began with a grade doe, a
purebred Nubian doe, and a purebred Nu-
bian buck. We had been married two years
and lived on a farm owned by his family,
who lived out of the state. I was
a city slicker who had always
wanted to live on a farm;
he had a little farming
experience, mostly with
grain. The hobby per-
sisted and grew, and
gradually more breeds
were added. We began
showing the goats and
went on DHIR test. Eventu-
ally there was too much milk,
and commercial production was
investigated.
Throughout this time we had a few jobs,
Randy went to college, and our logging busi-
ness evolved. We purchased our own land and
built fences, barns, shops, and our house in
1985, the dairy in 1986. Though I do not work
in the log woods anymore, I do the bookwork
for our company. Randy does not help with
the daily goat-related chores but helps fix
everything that needs fixing and operates the
hay baler. Our daughter, Jessica, helps with
the goat operation. I was a licensed American
Dairy Goat Association judge for 15 years, but
it is too hard to do all that traveling and do a
good job with the operations at home.
Currently, we milk 72 head. The milk is
marketed to the only plant currently operat-
ing in our state (Jackson-Mitchell, Yellville,
Arkansas). A tanker picks it up at the farm
weekly. The milk is processed, evaporated,
and canned.
We sell most of the doe kids and quite a
few of the bucks, mostly to other breeders who
want goats for showing or family milk, and we
export some goats. Having the herd on DHIR
test, appraising them yearly, and showing
some, has helped sales of kids. We like having
registered stock, and though it requires a lot
more planning and paperwork, kid sales are
an important part of the income.
It was not difficult to get set up. In our
state, a person contacts the Milk Program de-
partment of the Health Department and asks
for a set of regulations. The person then
designs a dairy and asks a rep
from the Program to come out
to view the plans and the
site before construction
begins. Before milk is
shipped, the dairy has
to be inspected and the
water source tested. Al-
though our milk is used
for manufacturing, we
built our dairy to be Grade
A so that we can sell Grade A
milk if we choose to. The differ-
ence in a Manufacturing Grade dairy and
the Grade A dairy is not much. The dairy is
inspected regularly. I like to visit with the
inspectors, as they have a lot of good ideas
and are helpful. The inspectors are the same
ones that inspect the cow dairies and milk
processing plants.
The scale of production needed to make a
living is going to depend on the price received
for the milk, and many other factors. The big-
gest challenge for us now is getting a better
price for our product.
The venture has been very interesting to
me; I enjoy the work and the animals. It has not
been very financially rewarding. This job is not
for everybody. The person has to really like
animals and not mind the twice-daily chores.
We milk at 12-hour intervals and NEVER skip
a milking, because twice-a-day milking is very
important to decent milk production.
My advice to farmers—do not go over-
board on expenses. Be practical.
©
Kate Childers

Resources
Contacts
An excellent source of information is the
Hometown Creamery Revival Project. This
project is funded by the Sustainable Agricul-
ture Research and Education (SARE) program
of the USDA and managed by Vicki Dunaway.
The Hometown Creamery Revival promotes
on-farm processing as a means of making
dairying a sustainable way of life for small
farms. For additional information about this
project, contact:
Vicki Dunaway
Hometown Creamery Revival Project
P.O. Box 186
Willis, VA 24380
540-789-7877 (call before 9
p.m. Eastern time)
ladybug@swva.net
www.ibiblio.org/creamery
Currently the project produces a quarterly
newsletter, CreamLine, and maintains a Web
site with a list of equipment suppliers, events,
and links to other relevant Web sites. A free
sample issue of CreamLine is available on
request. CreamLine takes a holistic approach
to farmstead and small-scale dairying and
includes farm interviews and stories, recipes,
a chef’s column, processing instructions, guest
articles, and lists of resources. There is also a
companion magazine called Home Dairy News.
These can be ordered by visiting www.small-
dairy.com/news.html#order.
The ﬁrst major publication of the Hometown
Creamery Revival was The Small Dairy Resource
Book. It is a 56-page annotated bibliography of
books, periodicals, videos, and other materials
on farmstead dairy processing. It is intended
for farmers and others interested in adding val-
ue to dairy products. The resources cover such
topics as on-farm cheesemaking, ice cream, but-
ter, dairy processing, business and marketing,
food safety, and feeds and grazing. The book
can be ordered from:
Sustainable Agriculture Publications
Hills Building, Room 210
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405-0082
802-656-0484 (to order with
Visa or Master Card).
To order, send $8.00, plus $3.95 for postage,
by check or money order, or visit www.sare.
org/san/htdocs/pubs/. You may also print a
copy from the Web.
Steve Hart, Terry Gipson, and Steve Zeng at
Langston University’s Institute for Goat Re-
search are valuable sources of information.
Langston has a Grade A goat dairy. They can
be contacted at:
E. (Kika) de la Garza American In-
stitute for Goat Research
Langston University
P.O. Box 1730
Langston, OK 73050
405-466-3836
www.luresext.edu/goats/index.htm
Prairie View A&M University is another dairy
goat research center.
International Dairy Goat Research Center
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View, TX 77446
409-857-3926
Carol Delaney is the Small Ruminant Dairy
Specialist at the Vermont Small Ruminant
Dairy Project. She can be reached at:
Vermont Small Ruminant Dairy Project
200B Terrill Hall
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
802-656-0915
carol.delaney@uvm.edu
www.uvm.edu/sustainableagriculture/
?Page=srdp.html&SM=archivemenu.html
Dr. George Haenlein was a Dairy Extension
Specialist at the University of Delaware. He is
retired, but still answers questions about dairy
goat production.
Dr. George Haenlein
Dairy Extension Specialist
University of Delaware
531 S. College Ave.
039 Townsend Hall
Newark, DE 19717
302-831-2524

Judy Kapture and her husband operate a com-
mercial dairy where they milk 150 does,
supplying milk to a cheese plant and to a
Grade A market. She is also a dairy-goat
consultant.
Judy Kapture
P.O. Box 298
Portage, WI 53901
608-742-1622 FAX
New England Dairy/Meat Goat and Dairy
Sheep Directory
This directory was developed through the
Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s Small
Ruminant Dairy Project, and lists producers,
service providers, and resources for farming
with dairy goats, dairy sheep, and meat goats
in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Pro-
ducers are listed alphabetically by state/town,
and indexed by breed; service providers are
listed alphabetically and indexed by state/
town. The directory also lists resources, includ-
ing programs, associations, and periodicals.
$5.00 suggested donation per copy to cover
copying/shipping/handling. To order or for
more information, call 802-656-5459 or e-mail
sustainable.agriculture@uvm.edu. Or you
can mail your order to Center for Sustainable
Agriculture, 63 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT
05405. Make checks payable to “UVM”. No
credit card orders.
SARE Project Producers
Below are some producers who have done
SARE projects with dairy goats. You can visit
the SARE Web site at www.sare.org to search
all projects and read the specifics of these
producers’ projects. This site also links to the
Regional SARE pages.
George van Vlaanderen and Kristan Doolan
Does’ Leap Farm
1703 Rt. 108 South
East Fairfield, VT 05448
Darrell Baker
Box 1776
Tucumcari, NM 88401
Brit Pfann
Celebrity Dairy
144 Celebrity Dairy Way
Siler City, NC 27344
919-742-5176
theinn@celebritydairy.com
www.celebritydairy.com
Lee B. Dexter
White Egret Farm
15704 Webberville Road
Austin, TX 78724
512-276-7408
Tim Pedrozo
Pedrozo Dairy and Cheese Company
7713 County Road 24
Orland, CA 95963
530-865-9548
Web sites
University of California Cooperative Extension
www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vetext/INF-GO_
CarePrax2000.pdf
On-line publication Goat Care Practices
Georgia Goat Research & Extension Center,
Fort Valley State University
www.ag.fvsu.edu/srrec/newsletter.cfm/
Georgia Small Ruminant Research & Ex-
tension Center newsletters and publications
Dairy Research & Information Center, Univer-
sity of California—Davis
http://drinc.ucdavis.edu/html/milkg/
milk-3.shtml
American Dairy Goat Association
www.adga.org/ and
www.adga.org/StartDairy.htm
On-line publication Starting a Grade
A or Grade B Goat Dairy
Langston University
www.luresext.edu/goats/index.htm
www.luresext.edu/goats/library/
fact_sheets/d04.htm
On-line publication Grade A Dairy
Goat Farm Requirements
www.luresext.edu/goats/library/field/
hart02.html

On-line article Forage Based
Dairy Goat Management
North Carolina State University- Extension
Animal Husbandry (see Meat Goat)
www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/
animal/eahmain.html
Oklahoma State University
www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats
Descriptions and pictures of goat breeds
University of Florida Institute of Food and Ag-
ricultural Sciences
http://edis.ifas.uﬂ.edu/DS134
On-line publication Dairy Goat Pro-
duction Guide. A great resource.
The Hometown Creamery Revival
www.smalldairy.com
National Scrapie Education Initiative
www.eradicatescrapie.org/index.html
Information about the Scrapie
Eradication Program
Celebrity Dairy in North Carolina
www.celebritydairy.com
Goat Lady Dairy of North Carolina
www.goatladydairy.com
Associations
Annual membership to the American Dairy
Goat Association costs $35 and includes a quar-
terly newsletter and a membership directory
that is updated each year. The ADGA offers
educational materials; a list of national breed
clubs; a production calendar; a list of upcom-
ing meetings, shows and youth programs; and
videos about goat basics, showing, and cheese-
making; etc.
American Dairy Goat Association
Box 865
Spindale, NC 28160
828-286-3801
828-287-0476 FAX
info@adga.org
www.adga.org
The American Cheese Society also has lists of
resources and other practical information avail-
able to its members. Membership is $125 for
individuals and $75 for associates.
American Cheese Society
P.O. Box 303
Delavan, WI 53115
262-728-4458
262-728-1658 FAX
www.cheesesociety.org
Periodicals
The Dairy Goat Journal is published bi-monthly.
It offers articles describing dairy goat opera-
tions and provides many resources and other
helpful contacts.
Dairy Goat Journal
Countryside Publications, Ltd.
W11564 Hwy 64
Withee, WI 54498
715-785–7979
800-551–5691 (toll-free)
715-785-7414 FAX
csymag@midway.tds.net
www.dairygoatjournal.com
Subscription is $21 per year.
The United Caprine News
P.O. Box 328
Crowley, TX 76036
817-297-3411
www.unitedcaprinenews.com
Subscription is $22.50 per year.
Suppliers
Caprine Supply
P.O. Box Y
DeSoto, KS 66018
913-585-1191
800-646-7736 (toll-free)
www.caprinesupply.com
Hoegger Supply Company
P.O. Box 331
Fayetteville, GA 30214
770-461–6926
800-221-4628 (ordering only)
770-461–7334 FAX
www.hoeggergoatsupply.com
Hamby Dairy Supply
2402 SW Water Street
Maysville, MO 64469-9102

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Dairy Goats: Sustainable Production

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